439:
576:, particularly in how these concepts interact with children. Under this interpretation, the toy can be seen as carrying out revenge on adults as a proxy of the child. Feminine portrayals of killer toys rarely differ from masculine portrayals, with the focus typically being on innocence and monstrosity rather than sexuality. One practical consideration in killer toy films is the need to convince a viewer that the toy is a legitimate physical threat to its victims. Due to the small size of most toys, killer toys are often depicted as using creative or sudden attacks that do not provide an opportunity for self-defense.
137:
584:. The puppeteer has been recognized as a symbol for the extension of an identity since ancient times, and the merging of identities between the puppeteer and the puppet has influenced the killer toy character beyond its use with ventriloquist dummies. Dummies also reinforce the elements of childhood found in killer toy fiction due to their small stature and the childlike behavior of sitting on the ventriloquist's lap.
2032:
2044:
476:'s analysis of uncanniness in his essay "The Uncanny" (1919) has informed the phenomenon's role in horror, and it has regularly been used as a reference for the psychological effects that killer toys have on audiences. Freud posited that children do not make the same "distinction between the animate and the inanimate", while adults have an aversion to this blurring of living and non-living due to a
610:
596:
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profane behavior. The threat of a killer toy includes both the threat of physical harm and the loss of innocence. The climax of killer toy fiction often involves a child killing or destroying the killer toy, granting agency to the child and completing a "cycle" of violence that exists between the toy and the child.
487:
can invoke an additional sense of horror not present in stories based on occultism. These stories reflect fears that are expressed in real-world discussions about artificial intelligence, providing a more plausible justification for the toy's behavior and creating a villain that could conceivably
549:
Killer toys subvert the traditional association of childhood with innocence and dependence, to the point that the doll has become a shorthand for childhood in the horror genre. The image of the toy accentuates this theme, conflating the childish appearance of a doll with gratuitously violent and
330:, as a defining example of the killer doll in popular culture. This incarnation of the killer doll incorporated many of the ideas that defined such characters, including the subversion of childhood innocence, the share of agency between the toy and a child, and the emergence of the
579:
Killer ventriloquist dummies invoke additional symbolic meanings by imbuing life into a toy that already appears to be living and serves as an extension of an already living person, and this connection between the puppeteer and the puppet can invoke the idea of an evil
176:, sometimes marketing themselves as being written by the doll. These stories acknowledged the bond between children and dolls and the personification of dolls by children, both of which would be subverted by later killer-toy fiction.
334:
into the living world. The film was distinct in the source of its killer toy; rather than an undefined demonic presence, the character of Chucky is created in the physical world from a previously established character.
105:, which has become widely recognized as a horror icon in popular culture. Killer toy fiction has remained prevalent in horror, and other popular killer doll franchises have been created since then, including
852:
95:(1936). These early examples primarily featured ventriloquist dummies, with works featuring killer dolls developing in the 1960s through the 1980s. The genre of killer toy fiction was popularized by
553:
Killer toys invoke parental fears that children may become corrupted or that a parent may accidentally provide them with a negative influence. Stories about killer toys often involve homes with a
223:(1978). The relationship between the ventriloquist and the dummy influenced later killer toy characters, even as they moved away from strictly psychological elements toward the supernatural.
770:
1964:
561:, allowing for the killer toy to fulfill an emotional role for a lonely child. In these cases, the child character may develop an attachment to the toy, reminiscent of real-life
488:
exist in the real world. They also invoke the uncanny in the toy's personality as well as its appearance, with artificial intelligence providing it with a nearly human demeanor.
50:, that come to life and seek to kill or otherwise carry out violence. The killer toy subverts the associations of childhood with innocence and lack of agency while invoking the
454:. The uncanny nature of a killer toy creates a strong visual element, allowing for a prominent role in visual media such as film. Creators of killer toy films invoke the
814:
172:, both of which experimented with the idea of a puppet's identity becoming more humanlike. Many American children's stories in the late 19th century emphasized
430:(2022) incorporated similar themes, inverting the tradition of making a doll look more humanlike by taking a human actress and making her look less humanlike.
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defined the genre, inspiring numerous successors and other similar films. Killer doll films proliferated over the following years, including further
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Ventriloquist dummies served as some of the earliest examples of unnatural toys in horror films, being established with "Otto" in the musical drama
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nature of a lifelike toy. Killer toy fiction often invokes ideas of companionship and the corruption of children, sometimes taking place in
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and is more inclined to interpret personality from an object with a recognizable face. Killer toys in film can produce horror by invoking
458:, in which the toy looks realistic enough to be disconcerting without looking realistic enough to look natural. The human mind naturally
126:
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252:, with the narrator describing the doll as the child's "guardian". This portrayal was inspired by the advent of talking dolls like
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of children's identities onto dolls. The toy may also be dependent on the child to carry out its violence, creating a system of
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195:(1945) is the first identified example of a killer dummy in film, establishing its dummy Hugo by building on the ideas in
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toy that was possessed while in a supernatural realm. The film demonstrated the clown's agency by having it move while
185:(1929). The dummy was a convenient prop for early film, as it could largely be operated onscreen without any technical
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expanding from traditional dolls and toys that complied with conceptions of morality at the time. These toys included
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305:(1987) introduced the concept of explicitly creating horror through the imagery of childhood manifested by dolls.
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530:. In popular consciousness, killer toys may also be associated with other uncanny humanlike constructs, such as
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as well as other "unattractive" toys such as toy insects. By the 1970s, this trend became associated with
112:
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2801:
961:"All fun and games…: children's culture in the horror film, from Deep Red (1975) to Child's Play (1988)"
1083:
199:. The killer dummy became a stock character in horror over the following decades, with appearances in
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1913:
1674:
1526:
1409:
249:
55:
1106:
675:
Lu, Chifen (September 1, 2019). "Uncanny Dolls and Bad
Children in Contemporary Gothic Narratives".
136:
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899:. Children: Global Posthumanist Perspectives and Materialist Theories. Springer. pp. 57–75.
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102:
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Dolls represent objects that appear corpse-like or both alive and dead, creating a sense of the
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represents the combination of human and inhuman qualities that produces discomfort in a viewer.
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2012:
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508:. The killer toy can be contrasted with stories in which friendly toys come to life, such as
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1986:
1918:
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1246:
1237:"Reflected Anxieties and Projected Dystopias: Black Mirror, Domestic Media and Dark Fantasy"
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before having the child establish his own agency by killing the clown toy in self-defense.
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In the 1960s, the trend of ugly and "monstrous" toys began, with toy manufacturers such as
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in the 1960s, which allowed for increased characterization and uncanniness of killer toys.
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236:(1936) developed a predecessor to the killer doll, featuring shrunken humans controlled
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allowed for more sophisticated killer toy characters beginning in the 1980s. The film
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24:
1296:"Deconstructing Feminine and Feminist Fantastic through the Study of Living Dolls"
1295:
807:"Still friends to the end: the evolution and endless appeal of killer doll movies"
372:(2004) modified the idea of the killer toy by portraying its ventriloquist dummy,
279:, incorporating imagery that would go on to be associated with horror fiction and
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introduced Talky Tina, one of the first on-screen killer dolls, in the episode "
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before revealing the toy's nature with subtle changes or movements to create
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424:(2019) introduced Chucky as a product of technology rather than occultism.
381:
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of horror stock characters. The killer doll
Annabelle, allegedly based on
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1031:
Moving Images: Understanding
Children's Emotional Responses to Television
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and further blurring the individual identities of the child and the toy.
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248:" (1963). This use of the killer doll was contrasted with the idea of a
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2403:
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1971:
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763:"Reenvisioning The Devil-Doll: Child's Play and the Modern Horror Film"
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326:(1988) popularized killer toy films and established its killer doll,
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The killer toy most commonly appears in film, where it dates back to
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Beginning in the 2010s, killer toy fiction increasingly emphasized
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as the first book that specifically collected killer toy fiction.
135:
1351:
891:"Toy Gory, or the Ontology of Chucky: Childhood and Killer Dolls"
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The killer toy may also be used as a criticism of adulthood and
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43:
3155:
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2120:
2064:
1355:
500:. They are most commonly established as a type of occultism or
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896:
Childhood, Science
Fiction, and Pedagogy: Children Ex Machina
845:"There's a reason why we find dolls like M3GAN so terrifying"
1196:
Kaay, Chris Vander; Kaay, Kathleen
Fernandez-Vander (2016).
388:, was prominent in the 2010s. The character was created for
470:
when it is unclear whether the toy is acting autonomously.
154:
Nineteenth-century precursors to the killer toy include "
394:(2013) before receiving a dedicated film series within
1146:. In Corstorphine, Kevin; Kremmel, Laura R. (eds.).
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1937:
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62:homes. They have historically been associated with
1107:"Every Killer Toy Movie Ranked From Worst To Best"
893:. In Kupferman, David W.; Gibbons, Andrew (eds.).
417:over occultism as the cause of killer dolls. The
308:
1239:. In Gibson, Margaret; Carden, Clarissa (eds.).
496:Killer toys feature prominently in contemporary
1144:"Discussing Dolls: Horror and the Human Double"
1034:. Manchester University Press. pp. 34–39.
3103:
767:The Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies
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1367:
8:
83:(1945) and expands on earlier films such as
1062:"A Short History of Creepy Dolls in Movies"
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2137:
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1300:CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture
1199:Horror Films by Subgenre: A Viewer's Guide
1149:The Palgrave Handbook to Horror Literature
711:"The History of Creepy Dolls Like 'M3GAN'"
1311:
677:Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies
380:. By the 2010s, the killer doll became a
1086:. Boys, Bears & Scares. May 15, 2015
1084:"Pinocchio's Revenge vs. Dolly Dearest!"
689:10.6240/concentric.lit.201909_45(2).0008
1105:Cusano, Melissa Rose (August 7, 2022).
640:
291:(1982) portrayed a killer toy with an
23:For purported real-life examples, see
2008:Internet Speculative Fiction Database
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1137:
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855:from the original on January 10, 2023
817:from the original on January 3, 2023.
805:Schimkowitz, Matt (January 3, 2023).
756:
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1294:Velázquez, Raquel (March 14, 2021).
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721:from the original on January 6, 2023
709:McCluskey, Megan (January 6, 2023).
662:
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656:
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652:
650:
648:
646:
644:
227:Killer dolls in the mid-20th century
132:Precursors and ventriloquist dummies
1336:from the original on March 14, 2023
1275:from the original on March 16, 2023
1174:from the original on March 14, 2023
1072:from the original on June 20, 2020.
999:from the original on April 14, 2023
929:from the original on March 14, 2023
773:from the original on April 14, 2023
127:List of works featuring killer toys
74:became more common in later works.
1216:from the original on April 4, 2023
376:, as a lifeless messenger used by
14:
1242:The Moral Uncanny in Black Mirror
504:in which a toy is inhabited by a
483:Killer toy fiction that features
2042:
2031:
2030:
1060:Dobbs, Sarah (August 10, 2017).
843:Free, David (January 24, 2023).
608:
594:
2600:(self styled captain, braggart)
402:. In 2016, fiction anthologist
1152:. Springer. pp. 249–255.
761:Staats, Hans (June 30, 2012).
18:Horror fiction stock character
1:
1202:. McFarland. pp. 74–75.
42:. They include toys, such as
1158:10.1007/978-3-319-97406-4_19
977:10.1080/10304312.2012.630142
959:Lennard, Dominic W. (2012).
889:Kupferman, David W. (2019).
312:and contemporary killer toys
3308:Fictional dolls and dummies
3104:
2971:Elderly martial arts master
2666:Hooker with a heart of gold
1251:10.1007/978-3-030-47495-9_2
905:10.1007/978-981-13-6210-1_4
510:The Adventures of Pinocchio
261:Aurora Plastics Corporation
165:The Adventures of Pinocchio
101:(1988) and its killer doll
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22:
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3151:
2630:
2619:
2127:
2116:
2098:
2026:
1389:
1235:Hand, Richard J. (2021).
849:The Sydney Morning Herald
208:Alfred Hitchcock Presents
3318:Sentient toys in fiction
1245:. Springer. p. 27.
518:(1995), as well as with
1757:Fire-breathing monsters
624:History of horror films
485:artificial intelligence
415:artificial intelligence
72:artificial intelligence
2698:Manic Pixie Dream Girl
2122:By ethics and morality
1313:10.7771/1481-4374.3720
1142:Mills, Sandra (2018).
447:
151:
1660:Organ transplantation
460:seeks out human faces
441:
434:Psychological effects
378:the film's antagonist
217:(1962 and 1964), and
139:
125:Further information:
48:ventriloquist dummies
480:of childlike ideas.
250:dysfunctional family
3303:Fiction about dolls
2912:Princess and dragon
2810:Princesse lointaine
2310:(servants, clowns:
2280:Gentleman detective
1442:Television programs
1394:Speculative fiction
408:The Doll Collection
386:a real haunted doll
361:Pinocchio's Revenge
316:The development of
142:ventriloquist dummy
3197:Identity formation
2987:American mappillai
2899:Damsel in distress
2681:Magical girlfriend
2586:(wealthy old men,
1559:Zombie pornography
448:
152:
3290:
3289:
3286:
3285:
3167:Adolescent clique
3147:
3146:
3143:
3142:
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3138:
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2656:Farmer's daughter
2625:By sex and gender
2615:
2614:
2611:
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2607:
2606:
2398:
2397:
2257:
2256:
2178:Mythological king
2058:
2057:
2013:Bram Stoker Award
1752:Extraterrestrials
1712:Zombie apocalypse
1670:Postmodern horror
1260:978-3-030-47495-9
1209:978-0-7864-9837-6
1167:978-3-319-97406-4
1041:978-0-7190-4595-0
1026:Buckingham, David
914:978-981-13-6210-1
502:spirit possession
277:teenage rebellion
267:based on popular
242:The Twilight Zone
238:psychokinetically
214:The Twilight Zone
160:E. T. A. Hoffmann
68:spirit possession
3330:
3323:Stock characters
3213:Little green men
3202:Imaginary friend
3153:
3109:
2931:
2871:Mammy stereotype
2825:Yamato nadeshiko
2641:
2632:
2621:
2496:Bug-eyed monster
2460:Social Darwinist
2409:
2385:Good cop/bad cop
2268:
2138:
2129:
2118:
2092:Stock characters
2085:
2078:
2071:
2062:
2046:
2034:
2033:
1987:Vulgar auteurism
1655:Occult detective
1596:Southern Ontario
1522:Dark Romanticism
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374:Billy the Puppet
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3037:Prince Charming
3031:
3027:Superfluous man
3022:Nice Jewish boy
2975:
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2858:Lady-in-waiting
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2726:Fairy godmother
2702:
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2352:Gentleman thief
2333:
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2112:
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2089:
2059:
2054:
2022:
1991:
1933:
1904:Science fiction
1889:Fantasy fiction
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1554:Monster erotica
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1077:
1059:
1058:
1049:
1042:
1024:
1023:
1012:
1002:
1000:
958:
957:
942:
932:
930:
915:
888:
887:
868:
858:
856:
842:
841:
822:
804:
803:
786:
776:
774:
760:
759:
734:
724:
722:
708:
707:
696:
674:
673:
642:
637:
614:
607:
600:
595:
593:
590:
520:science fiction
494:
436:
314:
281:goth subculture
229:
202:The Dummy Talks
197:The Great Gabbo
187:special effects
182:The Great Gabbo
147:The Great Gabbo
134:
129:
123:
86:The Great Gabbo
36:stock character
28:
19:
12:
11:
5:
3336:
3334:
3326:
3325:
3320:
3315:
3313:Horror fiction
3310:
3305:
3295:
3294:
3288:
3287:
3284:
3283:
3281:
3280:
3275:
3270:
3265:
3263:Tragic mulatto
3260:
3255:
3250:
3245:
3240:
3238:Shoulder angel
3235:
3230:
3225:
3220:
3215:
3210:
3209:("The Lovers")
3204:
3199:
3194:
3189:
3184:
3179:
3174:
3169:
3163:
3160:
3159:
3156:
3149:
3148:
3145:
3144:
3141:
3140:
3137:
3136:
3134:
3133:
3128:
3122:
3120:
3114:
3113:
3111:
3110:
3101:
3095:
3093:
3087:
3086:
3084:
3083:
3078:
3073:
3068:
3062:
3060:
3056:
3055:
3053:
3052:
3047:
3041:
3039:
3033:
3032:
3030:
3029:
3024:
3019:
3014:
3009:
3004:
2999:
2994:
2989:
2983:
2981:
2977:
2976:
2974:
2973:
2968:
2962:
2960:
2954:
2953:
2951:
2950:
2945:
2939:
2937:
2928:
2922:
2921:
2918:
2917:
2915:
2914:
2909:
2903:
2901:
2895:
2894:
2892:
2891:
2885:
2883:
2877:
2876:
2874:
2873:
2868:
2862:
2860:
2854:
2853:
2851:
2850:
2845:
2839:
2837:
2831:
2830:
2828:
2827:
2822:
2817:
2815:Southern belle
2812:
2806:
2804:
2798:
2797:
2795:
2794:
2789:
2784:
2778:
2776:
2770:
2769:
2767:
2766:
2761:
2756:
2750:
2748:
2746:Hawksian woman
2742:
2741:
2739:
2738:
2733:
2728:
2723:
2718:
2712:
2710:
2704:
2703:
2701:
2700:
2695:
2694:
2693:
2688:
2678:
2673:
2668:
2663:
2661:Girl next door
2658:
2653:
2647:
2645:
2638:
2628:
2627:
2624:
2617:
2616:
2613:
2612:
2609:
2608:
2605:
2604:
2602:
2601:
2595:
2581:
2576:
2574:Masked villain
2571:
2566:
2561:
2556:
2550:
2548:
2544:
2543:
2541:
2540:
2539:
2538:
2528:
2523:
2518:
2513:
2508:
2503:
2498:
2492:
2490:
2484:
2483:
2481:
2480:
2475:
2470:
2464:
2462:
2456:
2455:
2453:
2452:
2447:
2442:
2436:
2434:
2427:
2426:
2424:
2423:
2417:
2415:
2406:
2400:
2399:
2396:
2395:
2393:
2392:
2387:
2381:
2379:
2375:
2374:
2372:
2371:
2370:
2369:
2364:
2354:
2349:
2343:
2341:
2335:
2334:
2332:
2331:
2304:
2302:
2296:
2295:
2293:
2292:
2287:
2282:
2276:
2274:
2265:
2259:
2258:
2255:
2254:
2252:
2251:
2250:
2249:
2239:
2233:
2231:
2227:
2226:
2224:
2223:
2218:
2213:
2207:
2205:
2199:
2198:
2196:
2195:
2190:
2185:
2180:
2175:
2170:
2165:
2160:
2155:
2150:
2144:
2142:
2135:
2125:
2124:
2121:
2114:
2113:
2111:
2110:
2105:
2099:
2096:
2095:
2090:
2088:
2087:
2080:
2073:
2065:
2056:
2055:
2053:
2052:
2040:
2027:
2024:
2023:
2021:
2020:
2015:
2010:
2005:
1999:
1997:
1993:
1992:
1990:
1989:
1984:
1979:
1974:
1969:
1968:
1967:
1957:
1952:
1947:
1941:
1939:
1935:
1934:
1932:
1931:
1926:
1921:
1916:
1911:
1906:
1901:
1896:
1891:
1886:
1881:
1875:
1873:
1872:Related genres
1869:
1868:
1866:
1865:
1860:
1859:
1858:
1853:
1848:
1843:
1838:
1833:
1823:
1822:
1821:
1816:
1809:Therianthropes
1806:
1801:
1796:
1791:
1786:
1781:
1776:
1771:
1770:
1769:
1764:
1754:
1749:
1744:
1743:
1742:
1737:
1726:
1724:
1718:
1717:
1715:
1714:
1709:
1708:
1707:
1702:
1697:
1687:
1682:
1677:
1672:
1667:
1665:Penny dreadful
1662:
1657:
1652:
1651:
1650:
1645:
1640:
1630:
1625:
1620:
1615:
1614:
1613:
1608:
1603:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1578:
1573:
1568:
1563:
1562:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1541:
1540:
1539:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1503:
1502:
1492:
1487:
1482:
1477:
1472:
1466:
1464:
1460:
1459:
1457:
1456:
1455:
1454:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1417:
1412:
1406:
1404:
1400:
1399:
1397:
1396:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1383:Horror fiction
1381:
1379:
1378:
1371:
1364:
1356:
1348:
1347:
1286:
1259:
1227:
1208:
1185:
1166:
1125:
1097:
1075:
1047:
1040:
1010:
971:(1): 133–142.
940:
913:
866:
820:
784:
732:
694:
683:(2): 195–222.
639:
638:
636:
633:
632:
631:
626:
620:
619:
605:
589:
586:
498:Gothic fiction
493:
490:
456:uncanny valley
444:uncanny valley
435:
432:
313:
307:
273:counterculture
269:monster movies
233:The Devil-Doll
228:
225:
140:Gabbo and his
133:
130:
122:
119:
92:The Devil-Doll
40:horror fiction
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3335:
3324:
3321:
3319:
3316:
3314:
3311:
3309:
3306:
3304:
3301:
3300:
3298:
3279:
3276:
3274:
3273:Village idiot
3271:
3269:
3266:
3264:
3261:
3259:
3256:
3254:
3251:
3249:
3246:
3244:
3241:
3239:
3236:
3234:
3231:
3229:
3226:
3224:
3221:
3219:
3218:Magical Negro
3216:
3214:
3211:
3208:
3205:
3203:
3200:
3198:
3195:
3193:
3190:
3188:
3185:
3183:
3180:
3178:
3175:
3173:
3170:
3168:
3165:
3164:
3161:
3154:
3150:
3132:
3129:
3127:
3124:
3123:
3121:
3119:
3115:
3108:
3107:
3102:
3100:
3097:
3096:
3094:
3092:
3088:
3082:
3079:
3077:
3074:
3072:
3069:
3067:
3064:
3063:
3061:
3057:
3051:
3050:Knight-errant
3048:
3046:
3043:
3042:
3040:
3038:
3034:
3028:
3025:
3023:
3020:
3018:
3015:
3013:
3012:Little Johnny
3010:
3008:
3005:
3003:
3000:
2998:
2997:Ivan the Fool
2995:
2993:
2990:
2988:
2985:
2984:
2982:
2978:
2972:
2969:
2967:
2964:
2963:
2961:
2959:
2958:Father figure
2955:
2949:
2946:
2944:
2941:
2940:
2938:
2936:
2932:
2929:
2927:
2923:
2913:
2910:
2908:
2905:
2904:
2902:
2900:
2896:
2890:
2887:
2886:
2884:
2882:
2878:
2872:
2869:
2867:
2864:
2863:
2861:
2859:
2855:
2849:
2846:
2844:
2841:
2840:
2838:
2836:
2832:
2826:
2823:
2821:
2818:
2816:
2813:
2811:
2808:
2807:
2805:
2803:
2799:
2793:
2790:
2788:
2785:
2783:
2780:
2779:
2777:
2775:
2774:Woman warrior
2771:
2765:
2762:
2760:
2757:
2755:
2752:
2751:
2749:
2747:
2743:
2737:
2734:
2732:
2729:
2727:
2724:
2722:
2719:
2717:
2714:
2713:
2711:
2709:
2705:
2699:
2696:
2692:
2689:
2687:
2684:
2683:
2682:
2679:
2677:
2674:
2672:
2669:
2667:
2664:
2662:
2659:
2657:
2654:
2652:
2649:
2648:
2646:
2644:Love interest
2642:
2639:
2637:
2633:
2629:
2622:
2618:
2599:
2596:
2593:
2589:
2585:
2582:
2580:
2577:
2575:
2572:
2570:
2567:
2565:
2562:
2560:
2557:
2555:
2552:
2551:
2549:
2545:
2537:
2534:
2533:
2532:
2529:
2527:
2524:
2522:
2521:Swamp monster
2519:
2517:
2514:
2512:
2509:
2507:
2504:
2502:
2499:
2497:
2494:
2493:
2491:
2489:
2485:
2479:
2476:
2474:
2473:Mad scientist
2471:
2469:
2466:
2465:
2463:
2461:
2457:
2451:
2448:
2446:
2443:
2441:
2438:
2437:
2435:
2433:
2428:
2422:
2419:
2418:
2416:
2414:
2410:
2407:
2405:
2401:
2391:
2388:
2386:
2383:
2382:
2380:
2376:
2368:
2365:
2363:
2360:
2359:
2358:
2355:
2353:
2350:
2348:
2345:
2344:
2342:
2340:
2336:
2329:
2325:
2321:
2317:
2313:
2309:
2306:
2305:
2303:
2301:
2297:
2291:
2288:
2286:
2283:
2281:
2278:
2277:
2275:
2273:
2272:Lovable rogue
2269:
2266:
2264:
2260:
2248:
2245:
2244:
2243:
2242:Super soldier
2240:
2238:
2235:
2234:
2232:
2228:
2222:
2219:
2217:
2214:
2212:
2209:
2208:
2206:
2204:
2200:
2194:
2191:
2189:
2186:
2184:
2181:
2179:
2176:
2174:
2171:
2169:
2168:Knight-errant
2166:
2164:
2161:
2159:
2156:
2154:
2153:Christ figure
2151:
2149:
2146:
2145:
2143:
2139:
2136:
2134:
2130:
2126:
2119:
2115:
2109:
2106:
2104:
2101:
2100:
2097:
2093:
2086:
2081:
2079:
2074:
2072:
2067:
2066:
2063:
2051:
2050:
2045:
2041:
2039:
2038:
2029:
2028:
2025:
2019:
2018:Video nasties
2016:
2014:
2011:
2009:
2006:
2004:
2003:Pulp magazine
2001:
2000:
1998:
1994:
1988:
1985:
1983:
1980:
1978:
1975:
1973:
1970:
1966:
1963:
1962:
1961:
1958:
1956:
1953:
1951:
1948:
1946:
1945:Grand Guignol
1943:
1942:
1940:
1936:
1930:
1927:
1925:
1922:
1920:
1917:
1915:
1912:
1910:
1907:
1905:
1902:
1900:
1897:
1895:
1892:
1890:
1887:
1885:
1882:
1880:
1877:
1876:
1874:
1870:
1864:
1861:
1857:
1854:
1852:
1849:
1847:
1844:
1842:
1839:
1837:
1834:
1832:
1829:
1828:
1827:
1824:
1820:
1817:
1815:
1812:
1811:
1810:
1807:
1805:
1802:
1800:
1797:
1795:
1792:
1790:
1787:
1785:
1782:
1780:
1777:
1775:
1772:
1768:
1765:
1763:
1760:
1759:
1758:
1755:
1753:
1750:
1748:
1745:
1741:
1738:
1736:
1733:
1732:
1731:
1728:
1727:
1725:
1723:
1719:
1713:
1710:
1706:
1703:
1701:
1698:
1696:
1693:
1692:
1691:
1690:Weird fiction
1688:
1686:
1683:
1681:
1678:
1676:
1675:Psychological
1673:
1671:
1668:
1666:
1663:
1661:
1658:
1656:
1653:
1649:
1646:
1644:
1641:
1639:
1636:
1635:
1634:
1631:
1629:
1626:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1612:
1609:
1607:
1604:
1602:
1599:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1589:
1587:
1584:
1583:
1582:
1579:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1546:
1545:
1542:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1519:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1501:
1498:
1497:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1467:
1465:
1461:
1453:
1450:
1449:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1426:
1423:
1422:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1401:
1395:
1392:
1391:
1388:
1384:
1377:
1372:
1370:
1365:
1363:
1358:
1357:
1354:
1335:
1331:
1327:
1323:
1319:
1314:
1309:
1305:
1301:
1297:
1290:
1287:
1274:
1270:
1266:
1262:
1256:
1252:
1248:
1244:
1243:
1238:
1231:
1228:
1215:
1211:
1205:
1201:
1200:
1192:
1190:
1186:
1173:
1169:
1163:
1159:
1155:
1151:
1150:
1145:
1138:
1136:
1134:
1132:
1130:
1126:
1114:
1113:
1108:
1101:
1098:
1085:
1079:
1076:
1071:
1067:
1063:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1048:
1043:
1037:
1033:
1032:
1027:
1021:
1019:
1017:
1015:
1011:
998:
994:
990:
986:
982:
978:
974:
970:
966:
962:
955:
953:
951:
949:
947:
945:
941:
928:
924:
920:
916:
910:
906:
902:
898:
897:
892:
885:
883:
881:
879:
877:
875:
873:
871:
867:
854:
850:
846:
839:
837:
835:
833:
831:
829:
827:
825:
821:
816:
812:
811:The A.V. Club
808:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
791:
789:
785:
772:
769:(11): 54–69.
768:
764:
757:
755:
753:
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
733:
720:
716:
712:
705:
703:
701:
699:
695:
690:
686:
682:
678:
671:
669:
667:
665:
663:
661:
659:
657:
655:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
641:
634:
630:
627:
625:
622:
621:
617:
616:Horror portal
611:
606:
603:
592:
587:
585:
583:
577:
575:
570:
568:
564:
560:
556:
555:single parent
551:
547:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
516:
511:
507:
503:
499:
491:
489:
486:
481:
479:
475:
474:Sigmund Freud
471:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
445:
440:
433:
431:
429:
428:
423:
421:
416:
411:
409:
405:
401:
399:
393:
392:
391:The Conjuring
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
370:
365:
363:
362:
357:
356:
355:Dolly Dearest
352:film series,
351:
350:
349:Puppet Master
345:
343:
338:
333:
329:
325:
324:
319:
311:
306:
304:
303:
298:
294:
290:
289:
284:
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
265:merchandising
262:
257:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
234:
226:
224:
222:
221:
216:
215:
210:
209:
204:
203:
198:
194:
193:
192:Dead of Night
188:
184:
183:
177:
175:
171:
170:Carlo Collodi
167:
166:
161:
157:
149:
148:
143:
138:
131:
128:
120:
118:
116:
115:
114:The Conjuring
110:
109:
108:Puppet Master
104:
100:
99:
94:
93:
88:
87:
82:
81:
80:Dead of Night
75:
73:
69:
65:
61:
60:single parent
57:
56:dysfunctional
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
26:
21:
16:
3278:White savior
3248:Straight man
3182:Dragonslayer
3131:Black knight
3099:Seme and uke
3081:Mountain man
3071:Noble savage
2966:Wise old man
2787:Magical girl
2759:Femme fatale
2736:Loathly lady
2691:Monster girl
2536:Nazi zombies
2511:Monster girl
2505:
2478:Supervillain
2440:Double agent
2413:Antivillains
2367:Space pirate
2300:Tricky slave
2247:Space marine
2211:Byronic hero
2193:Youngest son
2141:Classic hero
2047:
2035:
1929:Urban legend
1914:Supernatural
1879:Black comedy
1783:
1700:Weird menace
1628:Lovecraftian
1537:Splatterpunk
1517:Dark fantasy
1338:. Retrieved
1303:
1299:
1289:
1277:. Retrieved
1241:
1230:
1218:. Retrieved
1198:
1176:. Retrieved
1148:
1118:November 20,
1116:. Retrieved
1110:
1100:
1090:November 20,
1088:. Retrieved
1078:
1065:
1030:
1001:. Retrieved
968:
964:
931:. Retrieved
895:
857:. Retrieved
848:
810:
775:. Retrieved
766:
723:. Retrieved
714:
680:
676:
629:Slasher film
582:doppelgänger
578:
571:
567:codependency
552:
548:
513:
509:
495:
482:
472:
449:
425:
420:Child's Play
419:
412:
407:
404:Ellen Datlow
397:
389:
367:
366:
359:
358:(1991), and
353:
347:
342:Child's Play
341:
337:Child's Play
336:
323:Child's Play
321:
318:animatronics
315:
310:Child's Play
309:
300:
287:
285:
258:
254:Chatty Cathy
241:
231:
230:
218:
212:
206:
200:
196:
190:
180:
178:
163:
158:" (1816) by
153:
145:
113:
106:
98:Child's Play
96:
90:
84:
78:
76:
31:
29:
25:Haunted doll
20:
15:
3223:Mole people
3066:Feral child
2948:Scaramouche
2820:Valley girl
2782:Jungle girl
2754:Dragon Lady
2731:La Ruffiana
2676:Loosu ponnu
2598:Il Capitano
2221:Tragic hero
2173:Legacy hero
2148:Action hero
1977:Horror host
1960:LGBT themes
1955:Conventions
1884:Fantastique
1799:Sea monster
1747:Evil clowns
1507:Creepypasta
1447:Video games
1112:Screen Rant
1066:Den of Geek
602:Film portal
574:consumerism
522:stories of
512:(1883) and
464:uncertainty
288:Poltergeist
246:Living Doll
156:The Sandman
89:(1929) and
3297:Categories
3258:Town drunk
3207:Innamorati
2907:Final girl
2889:Gamer girl
2592:Il Dottore
2564:Folk devil
2506:Killer toy
2501:Evil clown
2421:False hero
2362:Air pirate
2324:Pulcinella
1982:Horrorcore
1965:characters
1899:Paranormal
1819:Werewolves
1784:Killer toy
1705:Weird West
635:References
563:projection
559:only child
540:scarecrows
536:mannequins
528:automatons
478:repression
406:published
293:evil clown
168:(1883) by
32:killer toy
3268:Truck-kun
3172:Barbarian
3106:Otokonoko
3059:Primitive
2935:Harlequin
2926:Masculine
2881:Geek girl
2866:Columbina
2802:Queen bee
2588:Pantalone
2559:Archenemy
2468:Dark lord
2450:Terrorist
2445:Evil twin
2316:Brighella
2312:Harlequin
2290:Trickster
2237:Cyberhero
2216:Man alone
2188:Superhero
2163:Folk hero
2108:Archetype
1924:Tokusatsu
1846:Skeletons
1774:Gargoyles
1695:New weird
1606:Tasmanian
1490:Christmas
1432:Magazines
1340:March 14,
1330:233678220
1322:1481-4374
1279:March 16,
1269:228910293
1220:March 14,
1178:March 14,
1003:March 14,
993:144678490
985:1030-4312
965:Continuum
933:March 14,
923:150723621
859:March 15,
777:March 14,
725:March 16,
515:Toy Story
400:franchise
398:Conjuring
297:offscreen
70:, though
64:occultism
3253:Tokenism
3243:Sidekick
3233:Redshirt
3228:Pop icon
3045:BishĹŤnen
3017:Nice guy
2764:Tsundere
2716:Cat lady
2636:Feminine
2526:Vampires
2516:Skeleton
2488:Monsters
2404:Villains
2203:Antihero
2158:Everyman
2037:Category
1919:Thriller
1851:Vampires
1814:Werecats
1722:Monsters
1680:Survival
1648:Werewolf
1638:Jiangshi
1633:Monsters
1618:Japanese
1601:Suburban
1591:Southern
1586:American
1532:Grimdark
1527:Faustian
1485:Cannibal
1437:Podcasts
1334:Archived
1273:Archived
1214:Archived
1172:Archived
1070:Archived
1028:(1996).
997:Archived
927:Archived
853:Archived
815:Archived
771:Archived
719:Archived
588:See also
524:androids
468:suspense
364:(1996).
211:(1957),
205:(1943),
144:Otto in
3126:Pachuco
3118:Bad boy
3076:Caveman
2943:Pierrot
2848:Laotong
2843:Class S
2686:Catgirl
2671:Ingénue
2651:BishĹŤjo
2584:Vecchio
2531:Zombies
2347:Bad boy
2328:Pierrot
2322:,
2320:Scapino
2318:,
2314:,
2183:Paladin
1996:Related
1972:Macabre
1950:Writers
1894:Mystery
1863:Witches
1856:Zombies
1841:Mummies
1804:Piranha
1789:Mutants
1767:Dragons
1762:Chimera
1643:Vampire
1425:History
557:and an
544:statues
452:uncanny
121:History
52:uncanny
3157:Others
2792:Virago
2554:Alazon
2357:Pirate
2339:Outlaw
2263:Rogues
2133:Heroes
2049:Portal
1909:Shenmo
1836:Ghosts
1826:Undead
1740:Ghouls
1735:Devils
1730:Demons
1685:Techno
1623:Korean
1581:Gothic
1576:Giallo
1544:Erotic
1512:Cosmic
1500:Zombie
1495:Comedy
1415:Comics
1328:
1320:
1267:
1257:
1206:
1164:
1038:
991:
983:
921:
911:
542:, and
532:golems
492:Themes
422:remake
382:cliché
346:, the
332:occult
328:Chucky
150:(1929)
103:Chucky
3187:Donor
3177:Clown
2992:Himbo
2980:Young
2721:Crone
2579:Miser
2547:Other
2378:Other
2308:Zanni
2230:Other
1938:Other
1831:Death
1794:Ogres
1779:Kaiju
1611:Urban
1571:Ghost
1475:Black
1463:Types
1420:Films
1410:Anime
1403:Media
1326:S2CID
1306:(4).
1265:S2CID
989:S2CID
919:S2CID
506:demon
427:M3GAN
344:films
302:Dolls
220:Magic
174:dolls
44:dolls
34:is a
3192:Fool
3091:LGBT
3007:Jock
3002:Jack
2835:LGBT
2590:and
2569:Igor
2432:mole
2430:The
2390:Rake
2285:Jack
2103:List
1566:Folk
1549:Guro
1480:Body
1452:list
1342:2023
1318:ISSN
1281:2023
1255:ISBN
1222:2023
1204:ISBN
1180:2023
1162:ISBN
1120:2023
1092:2023
1036:ISBN
1005:2023
981:ISSN
935:2023
909:ISBN
861:2023
779:2023
727:2023
715:Time
526:and
442:The
396:the
275:and
162:and
111:and
66:and
46:and
2708:Hag
1470:Art
1308:doi
1247:doi
1154:doi
973:doi
901:doi
685:doi
369:Saw
117:.
58:or
38:in
3299::
1332:.
1324:.
1316:.
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1298:.
1271:.
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